Cessna 182M accident near Trenton, Nebraska, August 5, 1998
On August 5, 1998 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182M, registered N514HP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trenton, Nebraska (Trenton Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot misjudged the forced landing approach and stalled the airplane while attempting to lengthen his glide on final approach and inadequate preflight planning that led to the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1998 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Trenton, Nebraska · Trenton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N514HP · registry record · serial 18259904
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route at 13,000 feet a total loss of engine power was experienced. The pilot was vectored to a nearby airport. He reported that upon reaching the airport he was too high so he circled the traffic pattern. The airplane stalled and contacted the terrain in a nose down attitude just short of the runway. Post accident inspection revealed residual fuel remained in the fuel tanks. No sign of fuel leakage was found.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,307 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,947 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 1998; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKS Rock Springs WY at 2:10 pm
- Destination: CSB Cambridge NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 2,600 ft by 280 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,900 ft; scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from MCK, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.